Egypt 12-Day Tour: Cairo, Nile Cruise & Sharm El Sheikh

After breakfast, travel to the Giza Plateau to see the three Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. Your Egyptologist explains how the pyramid complex was planned, how the monuments were built and why the plateau became the burial ground of Egypt's Fourth Dynasty. There is time for photographs and, if available as an optional visit, entry inside one of the pyramids.

Continue south to Saqqara, where the Step Pyramid of Djoser introduced a new stage in royal tomb design. The site has open courtyards, decorated tombs and uneven ground, so a steady pace and practical footwear help.

After lunch, visit Memphis, the former capital, then continue to Dahshur to see the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid. A short camel ride can be arranged near the pyramid area for travellers who would like a different view of the desert landscape. Return to Cairo in the late afternoon.

Begin at the Egyptian Museum, where your guide leads you through galleries of royal statues, sarcophagi, jewellery and everyday objects from several periods of ancient Egyptian history. Rather than rushing through every room, the visit focuses on the pieces that best explain the development of pharaonic art and burial customs.

Continue to Old Cairo for a quieter change of pace. Walk through the historic religious quarter and see its churches, mosques and narrow lanes, with time to pause for tea or a simple lunch nearby. The area brings together layers of Cairo's later history in a compact part of the city.

Later, transfer to Cairo airport for a domestic flight to Aswan. On arrival, our team takes you to your accommodation or the cruise embarkation area, depending on the sailing arrangements. The evening is free to rest before an early start tomorrow.

Leave Aswan early for the drive to the Abu Simbel temples. The journey takes several hours each way across the desert, but the scale of the rock-cut sanctuaries makes the trip worthwhile. Your guide explains the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari, their carved façades and the international project that moved them to higher ground when the lake was created.

Return to Aswan and visit the High Dam, which controls the Nile's flow and created Lake Nasser. Continue by boat to Philae Temple on Agilkia Island. The island setting gives the visit a different feel, and the reliefs show the worship of Isis and other late Egyptian deities.

Finish with the unfinished obelisk, left in its quarry after a crack appeared in the stone. Later, board the Nile cruise vessel for the first of three nights between Aswan and Luxor. Meals and the evening sailing schedule depend on the vessel's daily operation.

The ship continues north along the Nile, passing fields, villages and strips of cultivated land that contrast with the dry desert beyond. After breakfast, visit Edfu Temple by a local transfer from the riverbank. The well-preserved sanctuary was dedicated to Horus, and its pylons, courtyard and inner rooms retain clear carvings that your guide can read in their historical context.

Return to the vessel and continue sailing toward Kom Ombo. The open deck is a good place to watch the riverbank, while the lounge provides a cooler option during the warmer part of the day. Lunch and free time take place on board according to the cruise schedule.

In the afternoon, visit Kom Ombo Temple, an unusual double sanctuary dedicated to Sobek and Horus the Elder. The reliefs include medical instruments and religious scenes. Rejoin the ship after the visit and spend the night sailing toward Luxor.

This is a slower day on the Nile, giving you time to enjoy the cruise rather than move between several sites. After breakfast, watch the river scenery from the sun deck as the vessel passes cultivated fields, palm trees and small settlements. Your guide can answer questions about irrigation, river transport and the villages seen along the route.

Meals are served on board, with free time between them to read, rest or take photographs. The crew will explain the arrangements for disembarkation and the following day's excursions, so keep the items you need for the morning accessible rather than packed away.

As the ship approaches Luxor, the landscape becomes more built-up. The vessel spends its third night on the cruise, completing the scheduled voyage between Aswan and Luxor. Evening entertainment, if provided, varies by sailing and should be treated as optional rather than a fixed part of the sightseeing programme.

Before breakfast, take a hot-air balloon flight over Luxor when operating conditions and aviation arrangements allow. From the basket, you see the Nile, farmland and the western desert in broad perspective. The flight involves an early transfer, a safety briefing and a short flight, followed by transport back to the hotel for breakfast.

Continue to the West Bank and visit the Valley of the Kings, where selected royal tombs descend into the limestone hillside. Your guide explains the decoration, burial rituals and the reasons tombs were placed away from the visible river plain. The number of open tombs can vary, and entry to special tombs may require a separate ticket.

After lunch, transfer to your Luxor hotel for check-in and rest. The afternoon is free, allowing you to recover after the early start and the morning's walking on sloping, uneven ground.

Travel across the West Bank to the Valley of Nobles, where the tombs belonged to officials, administrators and governors rather than kings. Their painted scenes often show farming, workshops, family life and offerings, giving a close view of daily work in ancient Thebes. Continue to Deir El Madina, the settlement of the craftsmen who built and decorated royal tombs.

After an early lunch or packed meal, drive north to Dendera Temple. The sanctuary of Hathor has a broad façade, columned halls and detailed astronomical decoration. Your guide points out the changing styles added during the later pharaonic and Roman periods.

Continue to Abydos Temple, associated with Osiris and the ancient cult of the dead. The reliefs and king lists provide a useful link between Egypt's religious beliefs and its royal history. Return to Luxor after the visits; the road journey makes this a full day, so comfortable clothing and water are important.

Spend the morning exploring Karnak Temple, a vast complex built and expanded by successive rulers. Walk through the entrance pylons, the Great Hypostyle Hall and the sacred lake area as your guide explains how the temple functioned as a religious centre rather than a single building.

Continue to Luxor Temple, where the processional route, courtyards and colossal statues show a different arrangement in the heart of the modern city. The temple was connected with Karnak during the annual Opet Festival, when images of the gods travelled along the avenue between the two sites.

Later, visit Luxor Museum for a more focused collection of statues, royal objects and finds from the temples and tombs around the city. End at the Mummification Museum, which explains the materials, tools and beliefs involved in preparing the dead. Return to the hotel with the evening free before tomorrow's transfer.

After breakfast, check out from your Luxor hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight to Sharm El Sheikh. Flight schedules and luggage procedures can affect the exact timing, so our team confirms the arrangements in advance and assists with the airport transfer.

On arrival, continue to your Red Sea hotel and complete check-in. The remainder of the day is unhurried. You can rest, use the hotel facilities or walk along the nearby shoreline, depending on local access and conditions.

This change of region brings a different kind of holiday: desert mountains behind the resort and clear-water activities along the coast. Your guide explains the plan for the next day's marine excursion, including the meeting point, boat arrangements and what to bring. Pack swimwear, sun protection, a hat and a light layer for the boat ride.

Set out for Ras Mohamed National Park, one of the Red Sea's best-known areas for snorkelling and coastal scenery. The excursion may use a boat or a land-and-boat arrangement, depending on the day's operating plan. Your guide explains the safety procedures before you enter the water and points out suitable places for swimming and snorkelling.

Underwater visibility and marine life vary with sea and weather conditions, but the reef areas commonly include colourful coral formations and many small fish. You do not need to be an experienced swimmer to enjoy the outing; tell the crew about your comfort level so they can advise you on the safest option.

Lunch arrangements depend on the excursion format. Return to the hotel later in the day for a shower and free time. This is the final full day, so keep valuables secure, follow the boat team's instructions and allow your swimwear and equipment time to dry before packing.

Enjoy breakfast and complete check-out according to the hotel's departure instructions. Our team arranges your transfer to the airport or to your next point of travel, allowing time for luggage handling, road conditions and the airport's check-in process.

If your departure is later in the day, the morning may be available for a final swim, a relaxed breakfast or time at the hotel, subject to the property's check-out and luggage-storage arrangements. Keep your passport, travel documents, medication and valuables in your hand luggage.

Your 12-day Egypt tour ends after the airport drop-off. We make sure the final transfer details are clear before you leave the hotel, including the vehicle meeting point and the contact information for assistance during the journey.